Cord grip clip



, 1941. J. G. PETERSON coRD GRIP cur Filed Feb. 8, 1939 April 1 Patented Apr. 1, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 2,236,764 j c c CORD GRIP CLIP, 1 J ohann G. Peterson, West Hartford, Conn. Y

v Application February 8, 1939,- Serial-No. 255,289 r 3 Claims.

My invention relates to cord grip clips.

It has among its objects to provide an improved clip and, more particularly, such a clip especially adapted to use in switch casings or the like, to relieve strain on the switch conductors. A further object of my invention is to provide such a clip which is of improved unitary construction, while being adapted to be readily applied and removed from the side of a conductor cord and also adapted to hold the latter securely when in gripping position thereon. A still further object of my invention is to provide such an improved clip especially adapted to use in connection with fiat flexible type cords and having improved cooperating cord receiving and gripping aperture means therein adapted to permit ready'insertion of the cord and subsequent firm gripping of the latter upon relatiive twisting movement between the clip and cord. Still-another object is to provide an improved'clip which is capable of being readily and inexpensively produced. These and other objects and advantages of my improvements will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawing, 1 have shown for purposes of illustration certain embodiments which my invention may assume in practice.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan 'viewof a through switch having my improved cordgrip clip applied to one of the conductor cords thereof, a portion of the switch casing being broken away to facilitate illustration;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Figure 1 showing my improved clip in the switch casing with the cord compressed therein;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing a section of the fiat cord when uncompressed; I

Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the compressed cord in the position shown in Figure 1, the'clip being shown in section to facilitate illustration;

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view showing the cord in process of insertion inthe clip;

Fig. 6 is a similar perspective view showing the cord inserted in the clip;

Fig. '7 is a side elevation of the clip per se;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 but showing a modified construction; and

Fig. 9 isa similar view showing a further modified construction.

Referring first to the illustrative construction shown in Figures 1 and 2, it will be observed that I have shown my invention applied to a feed through switch, generally indicated at I, and

comprising usual longitudinally divided casing members-2 and 3 and having therein a suitable switch mechanism (not shown) controlled by an operating member'l and having suitable terminals :thereon including terminals 5 connected between fiat flexible conductors or cords 6; my improved laterally connectible cord grip clip, generally indicated at l, forming improved'strain relieving-means-in a chamber 8 at one end of the casing members -2 and 3 and, gripping one of the cords '6 in an improved manner between the usual conductor aperture at that end of the casing and the terminals 5. v

Referring nroreparticularly t0 myimproved clip 'l,-:it will noted that the. same herein is formed-' of suitable insulating material or fiber,

such, for example, "as fVolcoid. Herein the same is also, as preferably, in the form of a plate of such material, and of sufficient thickness'and size as to provide a stiffclip. Thus, it is possible for the clip to be of a form adapted to be readily and inexpensively provided. Further, it is especially adapted to cooperate with cords of the so-called flat flexible or rubber-covered type, such, for-example, as the cord 6, wherein each of a plurality of 1 separate conductors is encased in flexible sheaths of insulating material 9 with the sheaths connected together along their adjacent sides to form a unitary cord. 7

As shown, this member 'l als'o has improved cooperating cord receiving and cord gripping aperture means therein. Herein, these means include; a-lateral, or marginal, cord receiving or entry slot l0, preferably of substantially uniform, width and of slightly less width than the cross section of an individual sheath 9 of the conductors 6 when uncompressed. Further, as shown, this slot extends inward from an outer edge ll of the clip 1, herein midway of such an edge extending transversely between the sides l2 of the generally rectangular clip, shown in Figur'es- 1 to 7 as adapted to fit the recess 8. Herein, also-this slot 10 communicates withan inner slot, or gripping aperture, I3 disposed generally transversely thereto and lengthwise'of the clip I substantially midway between the edge ll there of and its opposite edge lla. As shown, the clip body forms 'asubstantially symmetrical margin about the' gripping aperture l3. and' the latter also has rounded ends" l4 and a gripping'm'eans in the form of a projecting heel 15 at the inner end of each side wall of the slot in, i. e. at the junctions between the two slots I0 and it. As shown, the slot I3 is also wider than the slot l0 and these slots are at right angles to each other, with the slot 10 disposed midway between the ends of the slot l3, and the combined depth of the slots substantially equal to the maximum width of the cord 6 when uncompressed. The cross section of the slot I3 is such as to be slightly smaller than the cross section of the complete cord 6 when uncompressed, shown in Figure 3.

As a result of this construction, it will be evident that when the clip I and cord 6 are brought together with the aperture l adapted to receive the cord 6 edgewise, the then superimposed sheaths 9 will pass through the slot Ill until the bottom sheath engages the bottom of the transverse slot 13, the flexible coverings of the sheaths 9 being compressed as they are passed through the slot i0. When, however, the parts are in the position shown in Figure 5, it will be evident that upon relative twisting movement of the cord 6 and clip 1 in either direction, the flexible cord will yield and be deflected by one of the wheels IS in such manner as to cause the parts to assume the position shown in Figure 6, wherein the sheaths 9 are snugly gripped by the ends M of the transverse recess l3, While the individual sheaths are pressed together as shown in Figure 2 and both are also under the gripping heels l5 at the junctions of the recesses l0 and I3. More particularly, it will be observed that the grip of the clip I is not only such that the two sheaths 9 of the conductors are forced together as shown in Figure 2, but that the flexible covering on the conductors is compressedas shown in Figure 4, in such manner that the conductor bulges -as at H? around the aperture l3. Thus, the clip 1 is very securely fixed to the flexible cord 6 in such manner as to prevent relative longitudinal move: ment. Obviously, howevenwhenever it is desired to remove the clip 1, it is only necessary to bring about relative twisting movement in either direction between the same and the cord in order to return the parts to the relationship shown in Figure 5, wherein they may be readily separated.

In Figures 8 and 9, I have shown certain modifications which may be used if desired. The

construction shown in Figure 8 is generally similar to that heretofore described, but it will be noted that in this construction, instead of the clip being of generally rectangular external shape, the same is of generally circular shape. Obviously, the shape of the clip may be varied as desired, for example, to adapt the same to use in chambers 8 of difierent cross section. In Figure 9, a clip generally similar to that shown in Figure 7 is also illustrated, but it willbe noted that this clip is of a type adapted to be used with a cord of the flat and connected three-conductor type, as distinguished from the two-conductor type illustrated in Figure 3. Obviously, the slots provided in the construction shown in Figure 8 may be the same as those heretofore described, while it will be noted that the dimensions of the corresponding slots Na and [3a are slightly larger, in such manner as to accommodate a threeconductor cord and permit the above described relative twisting movements required to connect and disconnect the same and the clip.

As a result of my improved construction, it will be apparent that all necessity for providing knots in the cord or special plural part connectors is eliminated, at the same time that the cord is very securely positioned in the switch casing and, due to the engagement of the clip with the adjacent end wall of the casing, quite completely relieved of strain. In addition to these advantages, it will also be observed that the clip can be very readily and quickly applied to the cord, as compared with prior devices, while also being adapted to stand up indefinitely in service, and also to be removed and used again when and as desired. Obviously, the clip may also be manufactured at very mall expense. These and other advantages of my improved construction will, however, be apparent to those skilled in the art.

While I have in this application specifically described certain forms which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that these forms have been chosen for purposes of illustration, and that the invention may be modified and embodied in other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a strain relief device for a cord comprising a plurality of resilient conductor sheaths connected in side by side relation to provide a cord having a thickness equal to the width of one sheath and a width which is a multiple thereof, a cord grip clip having a lateral cord receiving aperture of substantially the width of one of said sheaths and a communicating wider cord compressing and gripping aperture of greater width than one of said sheaths and of a width only slightly less than the width of said connected sheaths when uncompressed and so disposed relative to said cord receiving aperture as to compress the conductors between the end walls thereof when a cord disposed in both apertures is turned about its longitudinal axis into said gripping aperture.

2. In combination, a cord comprising a plurality of resilient conductor sheaths connected in side by side relation to provide a cord having a thickness equal to the width of one sheath and a width which is a multiple thereof, and a rigid cord grip clip having marginal aperture means for receiving said cord edgewise and communicating aperture means transversely elongated relative to said marginal aperture means for gripping said cord and pressing said connected sheaths together upon relative twisting movement from a position wherein said cord is disposed in both apertures.

3. In combination, a cord comprising a plurality of resilient conductor sheaths connected in side by side relation to provide a cord having a thickness equal to the width of one sheath and a width which is a multiple thereof, and a cord grip clip having a marginal cord receiving aperture of substantially the width of one of said sheaths and a communicating wider cord compressing and gripping aperture of slightly less width than said connected sheaths when uncompressed, said cord in its initial position of insertion occupying both apertures and extending substantially out to the entrance of said marginal aperture while being readily turned about its longitudinal axis into compressed position in said gripping aperture.

i JOHANN G. PETERSON. 

